RobertZemeckis’CASTAWAYisastrongexampleofwhatcanbedonewithaveteranactorandaprettysolidscript
TomHanksasChuckNoland,anexecutiveforFedExwhoisstrandedonaremoteislandinthePacific,isintopform,andthewritingbyWilliamBroyles,Jr
tellsthestorywithoutstrainingitselfwithworryoverthepremise
Hanksisremarkablehere
OfcoursethestorythatwillgetthemostattentionishowheandhisfriendBobZemeckissuspendedproductionhalfwaythroughthefilm,sothatHankscouldshed50orsopoundsandlethishairgrow
Sureenough,ChuckNolandreappearslookinglikeJohntheBaptist,spearingfishexpertly,evencrouchinglikeanativewould–thesurvivorinthewild
IneverysceneitseemslikeHanksisnotsurroundedbyalargecrew;hesimplyactsnaturally,holdinghisexpressivemouthandcastinghisexpressiveeyesinwaysthatengageusandalwayscarrytheplotfurther
Perhapshehasnotchosenwidelydi